NEWSFLASH 

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RP TO STAGE MISS SAIGON IN OCT, WITH OR WITHOUT LEA

Quezon City, March 9, 2000 It is all systems go for the staging of “Miss Saigon” in the Philippines in October, with a production budget that could exceed P450 million (approximately US$10 to $11 million).

The questions on everyone’s mind, however, remain unanswered: Who will play the lead role as Kim? Will the Philippines’ biggest female Broadway star, Lea Salonga, come home to reprise the role she practically created?

“Miss Saigon” made Lea a big name, and won for her the Tony Awards in Broadway and the Laurence Olivier Awards in London. For Filipinos, Miss Saigon is Lea, and vice versa.

Lea spoke to members of the Philippine press by overseas phone at yesterday’s press conference for “They’re Playing Our Song” which will be staged here in June. Lea played the lead role during the musical’s successful run in Singapore last November, and will assume the role again when it runs at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo.

So what’s the score on “Miss Saigon?”

"Yes, I've been asked, I've been approached," she said, "but I still cannot say, 'Yes, I'm doing it,' or 'No, I'm not doing it' because there are no formal negotiations yet. I cannot be sure if I'm doing it until contracts are signed, posters are made and preparations are underway. As my Mom (Ligaya Salonga) says, 'Man proposes but God disposes.' So as of now, nothing is definite yet."

Lea is in New York where she's a college sophomore in a general course, with a plan to major in Psychology, and will fly home during the school break to start rehearsals for “They're Playing Our Song.”

She will play Sonia Walsk, while Singaporean actor Adrian Pang will again play Vernon Gersh, the same roles they played in Singapore. Lea will have no understudy.

Lea's brother Gerard will be the musical director in the musical’s four-week run. The show will run Tuesdays to Sundays, without matinees.

Lea’s Mom Ligaya told the press yesterday, "Lea can't wake up that early to do matinees, not even when she was doing Miss Saigon in London and on Broadway."

Maxi-Media is behind the staging of “They're Playing Our Song” and is selling tickets at popular prices to enable students to watch it. It is co-produced by the Singapore Repertory Theater which presented the musical in Singapore last year.

The AFP Theater was chosen because of its huge stage area and backstage. The props and sets, including a revolving stage used in Singapore will be brought to Manila.

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